First~

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[There is a very beautiful young man in long elaborate blue robes with a large white firebird on his shoulder examining the wall between the men and women's section of the outdoor baths with a Most Displeased expression on his face] No matter what the intentions behind this, it is still an inconvenience. What is the point of creating two perfectly hot springs just to put a wall between them? This place has proved troublesome enough as it is, so I believe I will not put up with this. Now then...[He cocks his head to the side, giving the wall a critical look before closing his eyes briefly. Then he opens them again and stares rather fixedly at the wall. At first nothing seems to happen but then slowly the top of the wall starts to change growing rather transparent and liquidy. After a few moments, water starts to pour down the sides wall as it shrinks. Firesong keeps staring at the wall until, after a few minutes, it has been entirely turned to water.] There, much better.

Comments

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[Dryly] Yes, thank you for that information. The rather obvious signs would never have informed me of that.

The areas were not really what I would call private. Even separated by sexes you are still sharing space with many others. What is the harm in making it even more open?

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[has not risen to sarcasm in years]

By the country's traditional cultural values, women and men own separate spaces. While the separation between sexes has been slowly crumbling over the years [see: Haruhi], most still don't feel comfortable being undressed in front of those from the opposite sex. For individuals without those hesitations or who do not wish to place themselves in the binary categories, this onsen has provided areas for mixed bathing.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

Would you mind telling me what country I happen to be in at the moment? I was dragged here without permission or knowledge of where I was going.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

This is not a country. The Astral Plane is a space between multiple universes. The country I referred to was Japan, where onsen are from.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[That gets a momentary frown] Like the Void..? No, this is different..[Muttered mostly to himself before he glances back up]

Since we are not in any country, I think that negates having to conform to cultural standards a country that I have never heard of.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

I think an explanation of the Astral Plane might be beneficial?

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

It would be useful to know why am I here at least. I did not sense a Gate opening nor do I remember traveling through one to get here.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

The people here are apparently part of an experiment. I should mention that the methods involved likely don't obey the laws of your world.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

Experiment? What sort of experiment?

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

That much hasn't been been revealed to us in detail. I've been told that they're often physical or psychological in nature.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[This doesn't make good news] So, we are little more than playthings to those that created this place?

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

That seems to essentially be it.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

Marvelous. I get to be entertainment. Not a role that I am usual adverse to, but I prefer some choice in the matter. They will not find me an agreeable subject.